600 Miles

After two weeks, we've already accumulated 600 miles on the Bear, so we headed down to one of our favorite dealers in Pt. Charlotte called Black Widow. The people are top notch and they have a "first come first served" saturday morning service plan, so why not make a day of it?

I ride to work on nice days but have a "50 degree" rule for myself. I really don't like getting bundled up to ride as it takes away from the feeling of open road, but this would be an exception. We woke up to 42 degrees and had to ride 45 miles to the dealer so here come the layers of down and leather... well actually no leather was involved :)

Here's what we learned -- those cool looking leather Harley boots really make a difference from a thermal perspective. I had them, but my wife didn't.... she does now. Interesting that no matter how warm and comfortable your core body is, if your feet are cold, everything is cold. We rode home with new boots for her :)

Seems like a small thing, but one of the great parts of this dealership is the service waiting room. It is between the regular sales floor and the service department, but it's big. I mean big and has a lot of seating, coffee, cable and everything you need when you're waiting a few hours for your bike to get done. Our favorite part is the big huge fat leather couch... ohh man I can sleep in that thing.

OK - I've got to go make breakfast for the family.

Ride safe and God Bless.

Touchdown!

Saturday morning... woke up about 5am... restless. Wife says "go back to sleep"... can't. A couple of hours later we're in Cracker Barrel getting a great breakfast and still going a million miles an hour. 11 am finds us on time at Lakeland Harley Davidson for the delivery of the Bear.

The day was cool, but perfect for riding. We came home on the back roads of Florida -- taking over two hours for a one hour highway ride. As soon as we got home, the truck was dropped off and out we went. I have been so blessed and humbled by how perfect my wife was made for me, but it just warms my heart when she says "let's go ride!"

Ohhhh my!

18 days

Got a call from the dealer... the bear has landed....

yahoo!

Countdown

Saturday morning and 28 days away from picking up the new bike. My wife and I picked out a dealership that is an hour away in lieu of the local shop, purely on the feeling that the people give you when you go there. It's that feeling of genuine people that deal with handshake... and don't let you down.

The local shop is big and well established - but the people are cocky and stand-off'ish. The thought is "I'm better then you and you'll buy it no matter how much of an asshole I am". Doesn't matter if it's a t-shirt or a new bike. Same thing.

Next closest shop the people are a lot nicer but still not willing to make a good deal for both parties. You pay full retail or we don't care.

The Harley shop we picked in Lakeland, FL is one of 2 gold shield dealers in the state and it feels like you're at a family reunion when you go there. My kind of place. When we we're searching for the right deal, the sales guy said "just give me the last shot". I responded with "why don't I give you the first shot and you make me a fair deal". 15 minutes later we were shaking hands American style.

Now it seems to me that my local dealer would have matched the deal, but you know there are a lot of people standing in line to take my money. Why not deal with the ones that are "nice". You want my money, be nice (and it doesn't hurt to make my wife happy too :)

Pray hard, play hard.

BH1